Culture shock rating

Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.

Low

Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.

Medium

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.

High

You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Low

Physicality

Physical rating

Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.

Low

Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.

Medium

Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

High

Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.

Low

TOUR SNAPSHOT

Tour snapshot

Discover how the old and modern parts of Rio’s downtown co-exist on this historical private walking tour. Learn how to ride both the subway and the new electric tram, and discover areas that were rarely explored even by locals before the 2016 Olympics.

This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.

Highlights

Discover the renovated harbour area and its highlights such as Kobra’s graffiti mural and Museum of Tomorrow

Stroll around Orla Conde surrounding the downtown and into Rio’s Old Town district with a private local guide to answer your questions

Ride the new eco-friendly tram of Rio

Visit the city’s oldest bakery and treat yourself to the best pastries in town

On this jam-packed private Rio city tour, we’re mixing historical venues, modern designs, and stunning views from iconic sites to give you a full taste of Rio’s past, present, and future.

Your private tour begins in the classic area of Copacabana, where we’ll head to the subway to reach the downtown area at Cinelandia Square.

We’ll ride the newest transportation option in Rio, the VLT tram. The sustainable ride on the electric tram takes you across downtown all the way to the renovated harbour area, which has been developed into the modern Olympic Boulevard. The 2016 Olympic Games have left a great legacy on that side of town, and you won’t get a better first impression of modern-day Rio de Janeiro.

We’ll get off the tram right by the impressive and colourful graffiti mural designed by Eduardo Kobra. His work features the indigenous people of five continents and covers over 2,600 square metres of the building. From there, we’ll head from the boulevard down to the Museum of Tomorrow, another impressive work that’s great for snapping a few photos with Guanabara Bay in the background. We’ll then connect from this renovated area to the old district of the city via a new pathway along the bay.

Moving along the old streets of Rio de Janeiro’s downtown, we’ll reach the first bakery of Rio. This traditional spot dates back to 1894 and has kept all of its original enchantment. As you enjoy the fancy architecture, treat yourself to some of the yummiest desserts in town. After this sugar rush, we’ll walk to Carioca Square to take the subway back to Copacabana.

Additional information

Dress standard: Latin Americans can be very conscious of appearance, so try to be casual but conservative in your dress. Outside of beach areas, halter tops and very short shorts should not be worn. When visiting churches or religious sites, shoulders and knees should be covered.

Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.

Closure of sites: If the VLT (tram) is not running, we’ll walk a few blocks and take a public bus to continue the tour.

Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.